Mnquma council blamed after six drown

MNQUMA local municipality has been blamed after six people drowned at Qolora-at-Sea in Centane during the festive season.

The bodies of four males and two females washed up on the popular beach after they were reported missing. They were found between December 26 and December 30.

The municipality allegedly failed to procure the services of lifeguards in time to monitor the thousands of revellers at their beaches over the festive season.

The municipality has three popular beaches, which are frequented by locals and visitors – at Mazeppa Bay, Wavecrest and Qolora-at-Sea.

The municipality said for the New Year celebrations they had hired nine lifeguards and other “experienced people” to protect the beaches. There were no reports of drownings on December 31 and New Year’s day at Qolora-at-Sea.

Municipal spokesman Loyiso Mpalantshane said they were aware of the drownings. “We always warn people not to drink [alcohol] and swim as that is dangerous to their safety. We suspect that some of those who drowned and those who were saved were drinking and we blame this as well on those who are illegally selling liquor on the beach.”

Some people took to social networks after hearing the Qolora-at-Sea beach had been closed – or would be closed – by the municipality after the drownings.

But Mpalantshane said he was unaware of any beaches being ordered closed. “We are not closing any beaches but [aim] to ... monitor entrances leading to these beaches with [a] special focus on liquor and those who are drunk.

“It is the loss of these lives that leaves the municipality saddened. We are doing our best to ... protect bathers.”

Butterworth police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha confirmed six bodies, including that of a 12-year-old, had been found at Qolora-at-Sea beach. The body of one person still had to be identified.

In East London, a missing person who was reported to have disappeared while swimming at Nahoon Beach had yet to be found, said Cambridge police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi.

East London police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said an eightyear-old boy boy had drowned at Chintsa River over the New Year period.

Holidaymakers told the Dispatch the body had been recovered.

The National Sea Rescue Institute reported no drownings on New Year’s Day in the Eastern Cape. —